Spells on SoM

As many people figure out, a lot of the spells on this site aren't usable. They are fake, or of really bad quality. Beginners and people who are new to the site come on and ask things like "Which spells are real?" or "Which spells are good for me to use?"

Now, I generally write my own spells. It's better and more personal. But, if I am looking for something different from my usual, there are some decent spells on this site; you just need to know how to find them.

(note: all of the spells I am using here as examples are from the site and are under the protection section of spells.)

Good Quality, Good Content:

These are spells that are written well. They use correct grammar, are easy to follow, and provide very specific information. These spells use correct, useful correspondences and flow well.

Example:

Shamanic Spell/Ritual of Protection

You will need the following items for this spell:

None of these items are necessary unless performing this ritually.

A candle, the color only matters if you consider it to matter. The candle represents fire and the mountain.

A bowl of water, from a fresh and natural source although bottled water is fine. This represents the sea.

A feather, wand, or stang. This represents air and the sky.

A stone, rock, or piece of natural metal. This represents earth.

A drum or something that can be used as a drum.

Casting Instructions

Cast your circle if you feel it to be necessary, or simply thether your energy to the earth and start channeling natural energies. At this point you can call the quarters, invoke or evoke any spirits, being, etc. for aid or assitance.
Make this ritual/spell your own, do what you like to do when casting make it feel right for you.
If you are performing this working ritually, place the items listed in a circular fashin in accordance with the quaters. Feather for east, candle, for south, water, for west, and so on. Light the candle and stand in the center of the circle and start beating your drum in a trance like beat. Aftter several minutes of beating the drum start reciting the incantation below.
If you are casting this spell for urgent use, the items and ritual steps are necessary, you can just begin reciting the spell.
Recite this incantation:
Above is the sky that I hold, and below is the earth that I mold,
Within the mountain the fire burns, beneath the surface the water churns,
I seek sanctuary from that which holds me wrong
Thus I plea and sing the Creators song
As my drums beat transcends the heavens through the sky
My feet stomp and shake the earth and send my cry
My spirit dances pure and strong, and the Creators light pierces the veil
You shall not bear me harm, and my faith and love will not fail
Be gone now this day never to return, in the name of the old one
By air and sky, and sea, by fire let my spirit be free and done.
Once done let the candle burn out and then bury it, pour the water over the buried candle.

This spells was easy to follow (albeit a bit long), and the information was generally correct. This would be a spell that I would consider using, but there is a chance I would change it some to match my own purposes, and that is okay. The only downside to spells like this is that they are much harder to find.
Not-so-bad Quality, Good Content This is a spell that has the right components, but it is harder to follow. Some of the grammar might be wrong, or there may be some information missing. If I came across a spell like this, I would probably rewrite it to suit my needs and to make it easier to follow. I might also add to it to make it more personal.

Example:
protection spell You will need the following items for this spell:

a voice

Casting Instructions

say:
Protect this place from evil and mean,
with a sheild thats unseen.
Only the good may enter here,
no one that can hurt or scare.
(you don't have to add this below section, it's more of a danger)
Unless I think that they are fine,
then them coming through will be sublime.

Now, this spell isn't unusable, but there are some minor issues. I would rewrite this spell just to make it easier to look at and read. Generally, these kinds of spells are easier to find than the best of quality, and still serve their purpose.

Bad Quality, Good Content

These spells are really hard to follow. They serve the right purpose, but are hard to use simply because of how scattered they are. I probably wouldn't even bother with this kind of spell, but they are reworkable.

Example:

PROTECTION

You will need the following items for this spell:

You Need:

Your Staff/wand

Silver or blue shiny glitter

A quiet place- best outdoors

You will need your staff (or wand) for this spell. It is

best if the staff used is blue, white of silver- The easiest

way to achieve this is to bind a ribbon, or ribbons, of the

color around it for the spell. This means you can

remove them afterwards.

Casting Instructions

1. It is best to go outside for this spell, as the air
movement will help disperse the glitter, and the magick.
2. Cast a circle, or create a sacred space.
3. Go to each quarter in turn (start with the West, then
North, East and south), and pound or tap the ground with
your staff/wand chanting:
?I call thee, you who guard the watchtowers of the
(direction) to guide me through the darkness, and ensure
my safety?. Do this for all 4 quarters.
4. Stand in the center and say,
?In the shadows, evils hide,
Ready to draw me from love?s side,
But with your help I shall be strong
And banish all that do me wrong
Send them away, send them astray
Never again to pass my way,
So mote it be?
As you say the last 3 lines, scatter the glitter in a circle
around you.
5. Close the circle, and have something to eat to restore
your energies!

As you can see, this spell was pretty hard to follow. It has the content generally correct, but the errors make it difficult to read.

Good Quality, Bad Content

This is probably the type of spells most newbies get confused by. The spell looks okay, it's easy to follow, the correspondences seem legit, but the content is 'fluffy.' I would not use one of these spells because they simply won't work.

Example:

Blast you Enemy Away from You

You will need the following items for this spell:

A mirror or something to practice on.

Casting Instructions

Take a deep breath in and imagine the wind blowing all of its energy into your body. Picture the energy floating around your body then bring all the energy up to your stomach, picture it creating a huge ball swirling around inside of you then breath out and picture all the energy shooting out of your stomach as fast as lightnig and hit your attacker in the stomach, it it works then they should ether fall to the ground in pain, be thrown backward or if your attacker is also a wich/wiccan then they may be strong enough to block it or even absorb the energy into themselves. Practice a few times on a mirror or any object before using it when your under attack.

This spell is written pretty well, but it promises to "blast" someone away from you with a gust of air. This is something you cannot do. If people could, we would see them every day, just pushing others around with air.

Bad Content, Bad Quality

These are the litter of SoM, but sadly, there are a lot of them around. There's not much that can be done, other than to know what they are and what they look like. These spells are both hard to read, and promise 'fluffy' results.

Example:

world protecting spell

You will need the following items for this spell:

16 candles all in different colours

Will

mind

consantration

Casting Instructions

put the candles in a circle and sit in the middle of the circle
use all of your will and all your power
and
chant:
BY the power of the univers i call upon the protection from all the plants to keep the earth protectedfor the blast of the sun exsploding
this spell should be done at a sirtin time and you should not do it un till that time it should be casted just be for the exspands this spell will pro tect the earth in all the wicca wiches and wizards or any other magical crecher
please add this to your book of shadows
p.s. please keep you mind foces and consantrat

This spell is not only very hard to follow (bad grammar, no obvious proofreading) but it promises to protect the earth when the sun expands, which is something, we as humans, have no power over.

End Notes

The things that make something a 'bad' or 'fluffy' content spell are the following: Claims to be able to change you into a vampire, werewolf, bunny, mermaid, or any other thing that isn't human; claims to do something humans have no power over like change the weather, stop the earth in orbit, stop time; claims to make you immortal, win the lottery, or teleport; etc. Magic does not break the laws of physics and it generally cooperates with any given law of science.

(Disclaimer: I added spells from the site. If you see a spell you have posted, and/or are offended in any way, please mail me and we will talk it over and I will see what I can do.)

Wonderful post for new people to the craft, and excellent refresher post for the old too. Good job, I honestly think if your on council, to post this as an Article! It is well written, well informed, and easy to read, as well as understand.

While I do find it good for members to learn how to make their own spells and see the differences in different types of spells and how they are written, I frown upon the fact that people jump to conspiracy by claiming that a majority of spells on a website are not usable and possibly fake. Besides.. Spells that are fake are the ones that defy any physical or spiritual boundaries. It seems like some people whom jumps to these conclusions without any back up are being simply being ignorant and more focused on such fantasies rather than being more open minded to the fact that may not be true. After all, there are no statistics suggesting such a claim to be right or wrong. Suggesting that a majority of spells are not usable and simply fake hasn't been proven true. There are a multitude of spells on this website and unless someone can come up with an engine or a group of people gathered together to go out and find how many spells defy physical and spiritual boundaries then there is no way of actually knowing.

Anywho.... I would also like to point out the good and bad are subjective terms and not necessarily known as "truth". Plus I do not feel it is always the quality or content of the spell as a whole. I feel like it is more towards the intentions of what the practitioner wants to achieve with the spell. Many people can't pronounce things, have speaking and reading issues, and so much more. That is why I came to that conclusion on quality and content. I would also like to take into account that not everyone can express themselves as people may want them to do so. This does go for proper grammar and all that when sharing a spell that you made or found.

Spells that are considered fake aren't entirely bad or unusable. Yes, they may defy physical boundaries and may not be considered real by most people, but they can induce something called the placebo effect which I do not find entirely bad. I do think it can be good for starting to think outside your box and become aware of different perspectives. Fantasy driven spells also help attract people to the occult and learn our ways rather than having misconceptions about our perspective of things.

Sociology, i compltely agree with the words you state. Yes, many spells on the website tend to be, ''fluffy''. This is normal for every website, but these spells are to indeed bring traffic to the website.

Sometimes a spell to say, ''become a wolf''can indeed be seen as, ''fluffy'', but truth is, some claim one little unrealistic thing makes that person fluffy in magic, thus that can include their rankings. While members who are fluffy, sometimes these members need guidance, or indeed are newbies trying to fulfill their dreams, due to the so called, ''magic'' defination from the media. Is that really all it takes?

When i first came on the site without an account, around 5 years ago, i wanted to be a fairy, and indeed the responses were harsher claiming fluff. Sometimes it is misinformation, or media that cause these problems to arise more efficiantly now, then back then.

ARIES(March 21 - April 19)Legal affairs may require you to travel. If so, enjoy the opportunities to see new places and broaden your own horizons. Now is a good time to pursue further education. Your newfound interest in faith may be inspired by a mentor or father figure. Be ready to expand your mind. You are looking to get plans approved and set achievements in motion. You are eager to take the lead. Discontent with your situation in life may come to the forefront. Recognition and material success feel increasingly important. Reach out to others for assistance if needed.

CAPRICORN(December 22 - January 19)A loss may be causing you sorrow or strife. Look for solace in seclusion or time spent with children or pets. Elders may need your time and care, perhaps because of health concerns or legal matters. Change is inevitable so try to embrace it. With hard work and a positive outlook, an obstacle can be overcome. You are eager for a fresh start. Use this momentum to change some personal habits or refresh your appearance. Enjoy today's inspiring mood to make reasonable changes to your routine and outlook. Time to show the world your true self and have fun doing it!

TAURUS(April 20 - May 20)A personal setback may be causing you stress right now. Research the problem facing you and the issue will be managed. Monetary gains may also be on the way, via an expected inheritance. Invest wisely in order to set a positive course for the future. Freedom on all levels is the focus. You feel a need to spread out and grow, intellectually as well as spiritually. New experiences and dreams are all favored. Plan a trip or take a small risk. You're feeling restless so explore a new point of view on your life.

GEMINI(May 21 - June 20)You may find yourself in meetings to discuss important contracts, deals, tie-ups and negotiations. If you are not married, this might be the time to tie the knot. A grandmother, or grandmotherly figure, may play a pivotal role. You are now seeking new experiences and intense bonds. Emotional commitments are important to you as you search for meaning. Money and material comforts demand your attention. Finances and romance are in the spotlight. While something in your life may be ending, try and approach this objectively and focus on what you already have.

CANCER(June 21 - July 22)All your hard work of recent days may leave you feeling a little fried. Make time to recharge. Time to yourself would be beneficial right now. Exit the rat race to be with your own thoughts and dreams. Examine and reflect before you make any large scale decisions. Personal relationships will engross you today. You require emotional contact. You may be anxious about partnerships, contracts or business transactions. Your charisma and dedication will impress others. Your openness is the key to your success. Now's a good time to try and get friends to open up to you.

LIBRA(September 23 - October 22)A short journey, perhaps to pursue an educational or spiritual interest, may arrive soon. Share your insight with others via words, images, art or music. A career transformation may be imminent, resolving some of the monetary pressures you feel right now. Travel with care to avoid accidents, injuries or illness. Your thoughts turn inwards and toward household affairs today. You need more personal space than usual, looking for security and comfort. The past is on your mind, especially memories of safety and peace. Think about building a safe and permanent foundation for the future. Long term planning always helps.

SCORPIO(October 23 - November 21)A secret that has been weighing on you needs to be shared with family. Take a break from environments that are distressing to you or loved ones. Recent travel plans that went awry may cause you a financial loss but you will recoup this money soon, perhaps through an inheritance or some unexpected income. Keeping up with your schedule may prove challenging today. Exchange ideas with others, especially siblings and neighbors. Expect sudden calls or emails. Deepen a connection with a woman who's close to you. It's a good time to start thinking about your future, especially in terms of a relationship.

PISCES(February 19 - March 20)You take pleasure in your work right now. Your capable leadership skills are admired by others and earn you a raise or a reward. Celebrate with family and use new earnings for that repair you've been putting off. Your reputation as a person of integrity is now firmly established. You may feel pulled to join a group or organization right now in order to network. You are in touch with the moods of those around you and could even be adversely impacted by them. Your sense of belonging (or lack thereof) may propel you to catch up with old friends and family.

LEO(July 23 - August 22)A relationship on the rocks may need to be ended. Try and handle this as diplomatically as possible. Work may be a source of stress right now so blow off some steam enjoying fun times with friends. Don't overdo it though and take care not to overspend. Put off making important decision about work and career changes, as you may be feeling indecisive today. Work on ideas that have been on your mind. New connections will improve your efficiency and money management. Always remember that dreams and ideas never yield a penny until you work hard to accomplish them.

SAGITTARIUS(November 22 - December 21)Legal and business meetings may dominate your day. Take time to tend to your physical well being. A fresh look or hair style may also be in order. Spend time with partners and investors, especially a significant other who make you who you are. Tie up loose ends now as a new opportunity is headed your way. The spotlight in on security today, both emotional and financial security. Practice self-care and resolve conflicts. Avoid risky monetary decisions. Engaging in sensible planning for the future will put you at ease and make you feel secure. Evaluate your income and spending, and seek balance in life. Remain goal oriented.

VIRGO(August 23 - September 22)Deal with the conflicts facing you at home. A move or repair may be necessary. Invest your money wisely by first doing plenty of research. When domestic affairs are in order you will be able to enjoy newfound prosperity at work. You feel expressive and even outrageous today, surging with confidence. You need to be heard, seen and noticed. You feel a desire to exhibit your personal flair. An invitation to see a movie or play may arrive. Enjoy life to the fullest, within reason of course.

AQUARIUS(January 20 - February 18)Celebrate recent successes with friends. Make time for romance with a significant other. Networking and diplomacy will help you make useful connections in new clubs and groups. These friendships may become networking options in the future. You may feel a heightened sensitivity right now and a need to get in touch with yourself. Time spent alone can be productive, allowing you to take stock of your own talents and abilities. Don't let your heart lead your brain unreasonably. Prioritize what needs to be accomplished and find out the best way to do so.